Page 94 of In Love with Lewis Prescott
Harper
When Maren walks through the front door of my house, I’m speechless.
“What are you wearing?”
Instead of answering me, she spins around to face the half dozen photographers who are standing on the street in front, right along the end of the driveway. I clench my fists at the mere sight of them.
“Stay behind the line, scumbags!” she yells. “See that line where the driveway ends and the road begins? Back the hell behind that or I call the cops for trespassing.”
I soften instantly. Every time she comes and visits me, she always has choice words for the paparazzi.
She flips them off with both hands raised. When I peek around her for a look at what’s going on outside, I notice the photographers don’t even bother to take a photo.
“There’s that smile,” she says after shutting the door and pulling me in for a hug.
I close my eyes, relishing the tight squeeze. “You’re the best, you know that?” My voice is muffled against her shoulder since she’s half a foot taller than me.
We pull away, and I take in the white T-shirt she’s wearing, which boasts a cartoon hand giving the finger.
She tugs at the hem, beaming. “Paparazzi repellent. They have a harder time selling photos when there’s obscene material in them.”
She pulls two rolled-up T-shirts from her overnight bag along with a bottle of wine and walks with me to the kitchen. She sets the T-shirts down on top of the kitchen island. “I had some made for you so you can wear them when you go out.”
“That’s honestly brilliant. Thank you, Maren.” I pop off the wine cork and pour her a glass. “I don’t know why I didn’t think to do something like that. Old me would have been all over it.”
Maren swallows a sip of wine. “You’re heartbroken. None of us are at the top of our game when our heart is shredded.”
I nod, my eyes burning yet again. I quickly blink to keep any more tears from falling. She sidles up to me, pulling me into a side hug as we both lean against the edge of the counter.
“Thanks for coming over. I know you’re so busy with work, and the drive out here can be such a pain especially when you’re working all those twelve-hour shifts—”
“Hey.” She tightens her arm around me. “No apologies necessary. I’m your best friend, and I want to be here for you. Always.”
This time when I blink, a few tears escape. As shitty as it’s been to lose Lewis, I’m so lucky to have the support system that I have with Maren and Naomi checking up on me every day.
“How about some comfort food and a Netflix binge tonight?”
I sniffle and wipe at my face. “Sounds perfect.”
When she peers into the fridge, her eyes widen. “Wow. I’m guessing your mom’s been by?”
“Yup. She’s been trying to come every day after work, but I’ve negotiated her down to every other day. And she always brings something to eat. That’s why I’ve got enough food to feed ten people for a month.”
“I get it. Food is my family’s love language too.”
Her phone blares, and she sets the Tupperware container she just pulled from the fridge on the counter. She squints at the screen.
“Telemarketer?” I ask.
“Probably.” She silences it, but then it sounds again so she answers.
I open the Tupperware and dish outpansitonto two plates when she stammers.
“What the... Lewis?”
I freeze at the mention of his name. The fork drops from my hand, landing on the plate with a clank. What the hell is Lewis doing calling Maren? How did he get her number?
I whip my head to Maren, who’s gazing at me with bulging, unblinking eyes. “Um, yeah, I’m with her right now...” She frowns and shakes her head, like she’s trying to make sense of what is happening. “Wait, how did you get my number?”
